The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1887-08-11

mouse to house that on the previous
night stranger had arrived, and had
secured board at Thompson's farm and
given out his intention of staying some
time. The duration he had fixed
varied, according to the relators, from
week to two years, but all
agreed that he was young, good
looking, and. though he carried
pack, not peddler. Why
he had gone to Thompson's was un-
known. and the proprietor of every
other decent house said the stranger
had made big mistake, and would be
sorry before the hay was in. The ex-
cuses made to call at Thompson's that
morning were numerous and ingeni-
Gus, but the callers found little reward.
The stranger had risen early, and taking
lunch with him, had gone off for a
days sketching. All that was learned
was that his name was Harry Willard,
and that he had paid for his first weeks
board in advance. Mrs. Thompson
had not intended to give this last piece
of information, but she was goaded
thereto to the remarks of Abner Wool
let's wife to the effect that .'she didn't
believe in harborin' them as didn't give
a full account of themselves" Now
Mrs. Woollet's desire to turn penny
was so proverbial that jealousy of
another's having secured paying
boarder was generally understood to be
at the bottom of her distrust, and her
observation about her not bein' willin'
to make herself servant to no stranger
did not arouse Mrs. Thompson's ire.
If Blue Posts did not see much of
Harry Willard on the day after his ar
rival, it made up for lost time on the
next. Before sundown he had made
the acquaintance of nearly every girl.
woman and child in the village, and in
the evening, at the combination grocery
and saloon, met many of the men. and
pledged their acquaintance in draughts
of home-brewed. The succeeding day
completed his introduction. He knew
every one in Blue Posts, and remem-
bered nearly all their names, and in
some instances knew how many chill
drea and babies went to make up a
family. Before the week was over
Harry Willard iran the village" He
made portraits of all the pretty girls,
got up barn dances, organized picnics,
extemporized charades, and introduced
dozen forms of amusement hitherto
unknown. OF course all the girls were
| in love with him. and their former
rustic admirers were utterly eclipsed.
Willard did not single out any particu-
lar object for his attentions. Pretty
little Mollie Thompson and the tall,
majestic Helen Woollet contended in
vain for his undivided homage. They
were not any more rewarded than
coquettish Susan Strong, who seemed
to delight to try to keep him at a dis
tance. He was friendly with all. but
made love to none, not even to Fanny
| White, the cleverest, the handsomest
and the quietest of Blue Posts beauties.
1t was reported tnat more than one Of
these had been seen going to or return
ing from the squaw's cottage, and it
was even limited that they sought love
philters and charms. Certain wild
flowers that are supposed to show the
intentions or constancy of lovers were
also noticed to be in great demand.
In all the freedom of his intercourse
with young and old Harry Willard
never revealed his profession or busi-
ness, and when questioned on the sub
ject would turn off the interrogation
with a joke. Why he had come to Blue
Posts also remained a mystery, and his
statement that he had hit upon it by
chance while on walking tour was
not believed. The truth is so simple
that persons looking for secrets unhes-
itatingly reject it. Whatever brought
him to the village. he found sufficient
charm there to remain for nearly two
months. Then he disappeared as sud-
/ denly as he had come. Early one
morning one of Thompson's small boys
arrived at the house of each young lady
in Blue Posts, and presented her with
an addressed envelop. On this being
opened, its contents were found to be a
card bearing in engraved characters
| the words:
| HARRY WILLARD,
Mo- East Fifteenth Steeet,
| Nctc FORK,
| and written in a bold black hand and
very black ink, in capital letters, "P.
p. c."
Inquiry of Thompson's boy elected
| the news that Muster" Willard had
| got letter the day before. and told
mother he must go to York "terwunce," :"
and he'd buckled on his pack and
footed it at daylight
That afternoon the book club met,
and all the girls were there. The event
of the day Wizards disappearance
was too aI-absorbing to permit of any
other subject being discussed. ALI had
received cards exactly alike, but none
knew what they meant. What were
the mystic words represented by those
cabalistic capital initials?
81 think" said Molly Thompson,